Reflections from the Mirror: Things That Annoy Me and Things That Make Me Happy

This Blog's Focus, or lack there of

Edith Wharton said "There are two ways of spreading light ...To be the candle, or the mirror that reflects it." That's what this blog is about, how the light of other people and the world around me have reflected off and in me. . .or other things when I need to write about other things, like walking, lizards, or fruit. There will be pictures of plants. All pictures are taken by me, unless noted.

I say what's on my mind, when it's there, and try to only upload posts that won't hurt or offend readers. However, readers may feel hurt or offended despite my good intentions. Blog-reading is a matter of free choice, that's what I have come to love about it, so if you are not pleased, surf on and/or leave a comment. I welcome any and all kind-hearted commentary.

It's 2012 and my current obsessions are writing and walking, sometimes at the same time. And books. I'm increasingly fascinated by how ebooks are transforming the physical book, forcing it to do more than provide printed words on a page.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Things That Annoy Me and Things That Make Me Happy

Inspired by the essay “Hateful Things,” by Sei Shonagon and anthologized in Phillip Lopate’s book, The Art of the Personal Essay, that I read during the summer, I made a list (in July) I called “Small Things that Annoy Me.” Sei Shonagon lived during the Heian Era (some time in the 10th century) in Japan. She hated things like "a mouse that scurries all over the place" or when "one is just about to be told some interesting piece of news when a baby starts crying," or when "one has been foolish enough to invite a man to spend the night in an unsuitable place--and then he starts snoring." She also hated fleas, noisy carriages, crows that circle and caw, and people who say spells to themselves after sneezing.

After I wrote my list of annoyances, I felt an urge to balance it with joyful things, so I made another list called “Small Things the Make Me Happy.” I recommend the exercise, especially to list-makers. Here are my two lists:

Small Things that Annoy Me

A feeling like small nails driven into the skin

Mosquito bites

Stubbed toes

Banging my head on a cupboard door

Stepping in dog poop

Stepping in a hole

A sprained ankle

Ketchup on a shirt sleeve

Flies

Wind

Tight underwear